PMR and Thyroid Problems

Hallo CathyG

I feel for you. You are far younger than I was when diagnosed with PMR first time. I was 68 and long retired from Primary/ Special needs teaching. I do have some idea of what it must be like for you. To do your job as you would wish is probably near impossible and if you are not there you feel you are letting everyone down. Please do believe me; you must think of yourself.

With regard to early retirement, my knowledge is far out of date. However, a young colleague with whom I am still in touch regularly, did get a breakdown pension due to ME. It was a tragedy. She was one of the best teachers I ever worked with. Her reputation with colleagues and parents was second to none and we could hardly believe what his illness did to her. I am talking about more than twenty years ago and ME was often not accepted as a \"real\" illness then. Luckily she was well supported by our head. I think that PMR, although never heard of by most people is at least recognised as real and you do have your doctor on your side. Some on here have been treated rather dismissively before being diagnosed.

Have you discussed your early retirement applicaton with your GP? Do you belong to one of the teaching Unions? Call in all the support you can muster.

Come back here often, even if the typing is a chore. There is usually someone who will understand whatever the illness is currently throwing at you.

I do not have thyroid problems but do know all about palpitations. I found it quite frightening but have found that, as I have reduced, that is one of the problems that has gone away. I remember Googling Pred./ panic attacks and thinking that that was me to a tee. My doctor also said that they could well be attributable to the Pred..

So many weird symptoms appear and disappear and we never can be sure whether it's the illness or the treatment.

Best wishes BettyE

Hello Cathy

I'm sorry to hear of your suffering that has brought you here but glad that you have now found the energy to join in as I'm sure you will get some helpful answers to your questions.

Although I have some long-standing experience of both PMR and GCA, I am unable to help with the thyroid question except to say that as Prednisolone affects the adrenal glands then it's very possible that it can also affect another gland such as the thyroid. Steroids do have over 80 possible listed side effects so that shows just how many of the different body parts can be affected. Thankfully no-one gets many of those side effects and some lucky people don't have any at all.

Like Mrs G, I have so much sympathy with those of you who have to work with this condition which is additional stress that doesn't bode well for PMR. There are other people posting here in recent days who work in teaching and someone (I'm sorry I can't remember her name) who said she has been off work with PMR and has just returned for a couple of days a week. Perhaps she will join in here.

I hope you don't have to wait too long to see the Rheumatologist and Endocrinologist and that between them they are able to sort out your doses of Prednisolone and thyroid meds to get you on the road to recovery. As you list your address as South London/Surrey, I'm wondering which hospital you will be attending - I have been under St Peter's.

My very best wishes,

MrsO

Hi Mrs O,

Its in Tooting that I am going to. I asked the rheumy how many PMR patients she had and she told me about 200, which seemed reasuring.

At first she said I was young and had no raised esr, but having taken the history and examined me she said it did seem like PMR and put the steroids up. Unfortunately I have got worse as my thyroxine level has come down. Still waiting to see the endocrinologist.

Is Guildford? My husband used to live there and his oldest son was born there. Ours were all born in Carshalton.

Not working at present as too exhausted. Very greatful for the support and advice.

Best wishes,

CathyG

[color=orange:c4f20bac38][b:c4f20bac38]EMIS Moderators have removed hospital names from the posting as this is the policy of Patient UK not to publish this. Please feel free to communicate with other registered members via Private Messaging (PM).[/b:c4f20bac38][/color:c4f20bac38]

Hello Cathy - I live in Guildford . I don't know anything about its reputation for PMR ......

BUT my GP is a rheumy, and works a couple of days a week at a \"local Hospital\" (not in Guildford) so I haven't ever asked to see a specialist.

I wonder whether you see him, Mrs O? I suppose I can't mention his name but am I allowed to say his name links with a very well known childrens' charity?

Cathy, years ago babies were born - as part of it was the old workhouse a new building was somewhat overdue! Even if you had your baby privately, any complications. My last son was born, lovely food, and you were woken by the nuns singing the office in the morning, very uplifting! And of course one actually stayed in more than 24 hours - but then for scans etc it had to be the good old NHS

I hope you get a bit more energy soon, Cathy, having a job AND coping with PMR must be quite hard

Take care, Green Granny

[color=orange:2161861687][b:2161861687]EMIS Moderators have removed hospital names from the posting as this is the policy of Patient UK not to publish this. Please feel free to communicate with other registered members via Private Messaging (PM).[/b:2161861687][/color:2161861687]

Hi again Cathy

My son was born 38 years ago in what was then a new maternity building so obviously not built to last!!! :roll:

In one way it is obviously quite reassuring for you to know that your rheumatologist has as many as 200 patients with PMR but in another it's not so good to hear of all those poor people out there suffering with this horrid disease. Hopefully, she has some successful recovery stories to tell you too.

I was hospitalised there a couple of times in my childhood on their original site at Hyde Park Corner many years ago before being rebuilt in Tooting. I believe the original site is now home to the Lanesborough Hotel. I have heard some excellent reports about the Tooting especially from friends who have been sent there either for cardiac surgery or to their renal unit. I also have a very elderly friend living in Tooting who has been in there for two or three operations, all very successful. So I hope you will find that you will also have a good experience with the rheumy there.

Hoping you are having a more comfortable day today, Cathy, but if not then just curl up with a book or watch the tv - I did wall to wall tv in the early days! :roll:

Take care,

MrsO

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Good morning [color=green:5b8e298ac9]Green Granny[/color:5b8e298ac9]

How lucky are you though to have a GP/rheumatologist, meaning just local appointments at the surgery.

Now where is this sunshine we were promised for today :?: It's still grey and cold just like yesterday when I took my lovely very elderly neighbour to our newly opened and rebuilt garden centre - the wind was so cold that we spent most of the visit inside having cuppas and hot toasted teacakes :roll:!

Off for a walk by the riverside with a friend now but it doesn't look like we'll need our sunglasses. 8)

Love, MrsO (with cat on lap! :cat: )

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I had my thyroid removed 40 years ago and have been on 100mcg successfully ever since. Earlier in the year my dr reduced it to 75mcg and even though I repeatedly told him I felt it was now underactive (I know my own body) he refused to up it. He was only going on the TSH result which was irrelevant when I haven't got a gland. I saw another dr who put it straight back to 100 and I felt much better. But a little while later I developed poly myalgia . I saw an acupuncturist who said exactly the same thing had happened to a friend of hers, so I am wondering g if there are any others out  there who have experienced similar?

I have no working thyroid as well.   I went off the prednisone because my weight ballooned.    Now I depend on Tea to give me enough energy to get me through the day.  An article I read says not to drink caffine and take Vitimin B complex, Vitimin C, Vitimin D, Omega 3 and 6  and MSR.  

I don't know if I have the energy to go to the store to buy these!  lol lol